What is Folklore?

Located between the disciplines of literature and anthropology, folklore is the study of traditional beliefs, stories, legends, songs, festivals, and arts of a given group. A primary emphasis in folklore studies is on tradition and the ways traditions manifest in the modern world.

What is Folklore?

A second emphasis is on vernacular practices - that is, those artistic activities that are generated by people informally. Folklore students document, analyze, and interpret a variety of artistic traditions and in doing so become culturally competent, highly skilled culture brokers and adept communicators.

USU Folklore Program

The Folklore Program at Utah State University was founded over forty years ago. The Program offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees and provides a flexible, interdisciplinary approach to study, small class sizes, and close interaction between faculty and students.

USU Folklore Program

The Folklore Program is particularly strong in areas of legend, digital folklore, the supernatural, landscape, and festival. Faculty affiliated with the program are well known in their fields, have a strong program of research, and are committed to student learning. Students in the Folklore Program also have many opportunities to work closely with the Fife Folklore Archives.